Device for producing current pulses



Dec. 17, 1940. Mus 2,225,227

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING CURRENT PULSES Filed on. 28, 1938 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Insulati 47 48 Pi o. 2 94 j Insul ation Insulati gwucm ron I Dec. 17, 1940. s 2,225,227

' DEVICE FOR rnonucnw CURRENT PULSES Filed Oct. .28, 1958 s Sheets- Sheet 2 1 Insulation 97 19 98 99 Insulation Fig. 4 5

Insulation 1 I 6 4? K 2 747 3 Insulation Dec. 17, 1940. A. L. MILLS 2,225,227

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING CURRENT PULSES Filed Oct. 28, 1958 a Sheets-Sheet s Fig. 5 64 69 15% 9O Insulation i7 69 5 71 5 gr we/vvto o Henr'g L. Mills Patented Dec. 17, 1940 PATENT OFFECE.

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING CURRENT PULSES Henry L. Mills, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Guy L. Pugh, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 28, 1938, Serial No. 237,440

2 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for producing current pulses and has for an object to provide an extremely simple and inexpensive device capable of periodically producing at predetermined time intervals current pulses of short duration.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a device with which the current consumption is extremely low.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a device in which a transformer is used, energized by a source of direct or alternating current and in which high tension current is produced through periodically making and breaking the circuit from the source.

A feature of the invention resides in providing the transformer with a core having oppositely facing poles at the end thereof and in providing an armature having end members adapted to swing past said pole pieces.

An object of the invention resides in guiding said armature so that the portions thereof which cooperate with the poles of the core swing at right angles to the direction of travel of the flux and past the poles.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the armature U-shaped in form.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a balanced armature.

An object of the invention resides in arranging the poles of the core and the members of the armature cooperating therewith so that force is exerted upon the armature of diametrically opposite localities.

A feature of the invention resides in providing the device with a U-shaped standard adapted to straddle the transformer and to which the armature is pivoted.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device for producing current pulses and illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in altered position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device with the parts arranged as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-45 of Fig. 2 and drawn to a greater scale.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the invention.

In electrifying fences or the operation of flash signals in isolated. localities, a high voltage is required which is most advantageously procured Where alternating current is available. However, availability of alternating current on farms and in isolated localities is rather limited. The pres- 5 cut invention provides a device which may utilize current from any source and particularly direct current as procured from a storage battery or a farm lighting plant and is so designed as to economize on the current consumption so as 10 to render the use of the device very inexpensive. My invention consists of a base [0 which may be constructed of metal or any other suitable material. Mounted on this base is a standard ll U-shaped in construction which is formed 15 with two upstanding legs l2 and I3 and a cross bar I4 connecting the same. The standard H is preferably constructed of sheet metal which 15 is bent outwardly to provide feet l8 which are 5 bolted to the said base by means of bolts l9. By

means of this construction a space 2| is provided within the standard proper, which space is utilized in a manner to be presently more fully described. 30

Within the space 2| of standard H is disposed a transformer 22. This transformer consists of a core 23 constructed of strips of sheet iron elongated in form and assembled to form a unitary core structure. Upon this core is wound Wind- 35 lugs 24 which will be subsequently fully described.

The core 23 is so constructed that the ends 31 and 38 thereof are exposed and form poles facing in opposite directions.

The core 23 is supported by means of two clips 40 M and 42. These clips being identical in construction, only the clip 42 will be described in detail which is clearly shown in Fig. 4. This clip is constructed from a strip of metal which is bent to provide two legs 43 and 44 which strad- 45 dle the sides of the core 23 and which are connected together by means of a cross member 45. A bolt 46 extends through the said legs 43 and 44 immediately below the core 23 and holds the clip rigidly attached to the core. The legs 43 and 44 have feet 41 bent outwardly therefrom which rest upon the base I0 and are secured thereto by means of bolts 48.

Operating in conjunction with the core 23 is an armature 5! which is constructed from a bar of iron bent to provide an elongated body portion 52 and two end members 53 and 54 depending therefrom. The end members are arranged in spaced parallel relation and are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the core 23 to permit of swinging of the armature past said core as will hereinafter become more readily apparent.

The armature 5| is pivoted for movement in a horizontal plane by means of a construction best shown in Fig. 5. Attached to the said armature at the center of the body portion 52 thereof is the outer race of a ball bearing 6|. This ball bearing is pressed into a hole 62 in the body portion 52 and is thus rigidly held in position. Extending through the inner race of the ball bearing is a screw 63 which is secured to the inner race by means of nuts 64 and 65. Spacer washers 66 and 69 are arranged adjacent the said race and hold the nuts 65 away from the outer race. In addition a rather thin washer 61 is employed which is disposed between the Washer 69 and the nut 65. A similar washer 68 is disposed on the other side of the nut 65. The screw 63 is held attached to the cross bar l4 of the standard II. This is accomplished in the following manner. In the center of the web l5 of said cross bar is a hole through which the shank 12 of the bolt 63 extends. A look washer I3 is placed upon the said shank and a nut 14 screwed on said shank clamps the said bolt to the web l5 of said cross bar.

Acting between the standard H and the armature I4 is a spiral spring 15, similar to the springs used in watches and clocks. The inner end 16 of this spring is constructed to fit about the nut 65 and engages the same and is held from rotation with respect to the standard thereby. This spring lies between the two washers 61 and 68 and is held in place upon said nut by means of said washers. The other end 11 of said spring (Fig. 1) is hooked around an edge of the body 52 of armature 5| and serves to urge the armature to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2.

Operated by the armature 5| is a switch 18 which consists of a switch arm 19 and a leaf spring 8| cooperating therewith. The arm I9 has a contact 82 secured to the same and the leaf spring 8| has a contact 83 secured to it. The arm 19 is formed with a lug 84 extending outwardly therefrom which is attached to the end member 54 of armature 5| by means of a screw 85. The leaf spring 8| is attached to the leg |2 of standard between two insulating blocks 8'1 and 88. The entire structure is supported on said leg by means of screws 89 which clear the said leaf spring and which are tapped into the web I5 of said leg. The switch arm 19 of leaf spring BI is so arranged that the same arrests movement of the armature 5| in a position such that the end members 53 and 54 of said armature are in position to be attracted by the poles 31 and 38 of the core 23. A screw 9| screwed into the body portion 52 of armature 5| is adapted to engage the head of a screw 90 screwed into the web l5 of the cross bar M of standard II and to limit swinging movement of the armature in a counterclockwise direction.

For the purpose of balancing the armature 5|, a slot 5| is formed in the body portion 52 thereof adjacent the end member 53. A bolt |52 extending through this slot may be adjusted radially to counter balance the weight of the arm 19 of switch 18.

Attached to the base H) is a terminal block 92 which is constructed from insulating material and which is secured thereto by means of bolts 93. This insulating block has binding posts 94, 95, 96, 91, 98 and 99 mounted on it to which the terminals of certain of the windings 24 may be attached, whereby the transformer is energized.

The windings 24 as shown in Fig. 6 include three primary windings 26, 21 and 28 and a secondary winding 29 having a great many turns whereby a high voltage is procured across said secondary winding when the primary circuit is made or broken. The windings 26 and 21 are connected to a common conductor 32 which is connected to the binding post 96. The two windings 21 and 28 are connected to a common conductor 33 which is connected to the leaf spring 8| of switch 18. The arm 19 of said switch is connected to the armature 5| which is in electrical contact with the standard II. This standard is likewise in electrical contact with base l0 which in turn is in electrical contact with binding posts 95, 91 and 98. A circuit |0| shunts the switch 18 and contains a condenser I02 by means of which the arcing across the contacts 82 and 83 of switch 18 is reduced. The other side of the winding 26 is connected by means of a conductor 3| with the binding post 94 and the other side of the winding 28 is connected by means of a conductor 34 with the binding post 99. The winding 28 is wound for six volts, the winding 27 is wound for 32 volts and the winding 26 is wound for 78 volts. It will thus be readily seen that if a source of six volt current is connected across binding posts 98 and 99 the 6- volt winding 28 is energized. Likewise, if a 32- volt source of current is connected across binding posts 96 and 91 the 32-volt winding is energized and if a 110-volt source of current is connected across posts 94 and both windings 21 and 28 are energized. In each case the same voltage is procured across the winding 29.

The operation of the invention when used as a device for electrifying fences is as follows: The source of current is connected to the respective binding posts and two flexible leads 35 which are connected to the winding 29 are also connected to the fence wire and to ground. The base I0 is also supported so that the same is insulated from ground. If this is not possible standard II is insulated from base I0. In normal position the armature 5| occupies the position shown in Fig. 2. The circuit through the primary of the transformer is energized through switch 18 and the two end members 53 and 54 of the armature are attracted by the poles 31 and 38 which causes the armature 5| to swing about the ball bearing 6|. As soon as the switch 18 is open the core 23 is de-energized and no force acts on the said armature. However, the armature through the momentum acquired by the movement given it by the first impulse continues to swing past the cores 3'! and 38 and to store up energy in the spring 75. The armature finally comes to rest and the stored energy in said spring causes the armature to return to normal position. If the force is too great, screw 9| limits the motion of said armature. As soon as the contacts 82 and 83 are again closed, the cycle is repeated. As these contacts make and break, a high voltage is induced in the secondary 29 which is transmitted to the fence. When an animal leans up against the fence it will immediately be shocked and will rapidly move away 75 from the fence. Due to the continual making and breaking of the circuit alternate pulsations are provided which electrify the fence and produce shocks to the animals at regular intervals. The intervals of the time are dependent upon the weight of the armature 5| and the stiffness of the spring 15. These can readily be selected to give any desired time interval so as to make the device as economical as may be practical in the consumption of electrical current.

My invention may also be used as a flasher or intermittently operated signal. In such case the secondary 29 of the transformer is connected to a Neon tube or equivalent lighting device. As the armature 5| oscillates the tube is periodically lighted so as to produce successive flashes.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely inexpensive and simple device is provided whereby fences may be electrified or lighting devices operated. The device operates positively and by the proper selections of weights and spring tension will give any suitable timing. The device uses a minimum amount of electric current and will operate on an automobile battery for several months. My invention may be used with either direct or alternating current or with farm lighting plants or storage batteries.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for producing current pulses comprising an elongated open core having poles at the ends of the same, win-dings on the intermediate portion of said core, a base, means for securing said core and windings to the base, an armature constructed from a bar bent to form an elongated body portion and end portions depending therefrom and disposed so as to cooperate with the ends of the core, a frame member straddling said core and windings and secured to said base, means on said frame for pivoting the armature at its center to cause said end members to swing past said poles, a contact carried by said frame, a contact carried by said armature, a resilient support for one of said contacts, said contacts being arranged to make contact and to energize said windings when the end members of the armature are in a position to be attracted by the poles, said resilient support breaking contact prior to the armature and members reaching fully attracted position to cause the end members to coast past the poles, said resilient support and the contact carried thereby being confined to the space limited by sweep of the end members of the armature to permit rotation of the armature throughout an angle greater than degrees, and a spring acting between the frame and armature for urg ing the armature to rotate in a direction to close the circuit through the contacts.

2. A device for producing current pulses comprising an elongated open core having poles at the ends of the same, windings on the interior portion of said core, a base, means for securing said core and windings to the base, an armature constructed from a bar bent to form an elongated body portion and end portions depending therefrom and disposed so as to cooperate with the ends of the core, a U-shaped frame member straddling said core and windings and secured to said base, said frame member being of lateral dimensions less than the spacing of the end portions of the armature, said armature overlying said frame, means on said frame for pivoting the armature at its center to cause the end members of the armature to swing past said poles and at one position straddle said frame, a contact carried by said armature, a contact carried by said frame, a resilient support for one of said contacts, said contacts being arranged to close and energize said windings when the end members of the armature are in a position to be attracted by the poles, said resilient support breaking contact prior to the armature end members reaching fully attracted position to cause the end members to coast past the poles, said resilient support and the contact carried thereby disposed within the space limited by the sweep of the end members of the armature outwardly of the frame to permit rotation of the armature throughout an angle greater than 180 and a spring acting between the frame and armature for urging the armature to rotate in a direction to make contact between the contacts.

HENRY L. MILLS. 

